Probably the most highly regarded Sage ever made. The X rod’s fast action taper built with KonneticHD Technology delivers tighter, more efficient loops throughout all ranges of casting styles. This taper allows a more accurate and efficient presentation, resulting in a performance driven, forgiving fast action blank - refining the connection between angler, rod, line, and fly. Stock of all gear is a problem as with all outdoor gear. It looks this will remain so for some time. We have plenty at the moment. 

And there are also the smooth, slightly slower action SAGE Sonic at $845 it is worth a look.

Everyone has a favourite pair of line cutters. Some use their teeth, but that can be very expensive. Mike Stevens has a look at a few.

 

Orvis make several styles and all are good. The Comfy Grip are basic stainless with an eye cleaning needle, sharp and have a lanyard attachment hole. At $20 bucks they work well. Next in the Orvis range is the Flow which are alloy and made in Pakistan. They are matt black with eye cleaning needle and machined from stainless steel - $55. The Premium Orvis nippers are made in USA from 6061-T6 aluminium and have a hinge that give extra power for easy cutting. The cutters are replaceable and there is a swing away eye cleaner. These are a delight to use and will cut to 80lb mono - $149. They come with a lanyard and in four colours.

Loon have a few nippers, but we will look at the Nip n Sip. These are stainless made from one piece and have an eye cleaner and a handy bottle opener. Very wide cutters make them easy to use and a lanyard loop is handy as well. There is nothing to break or let you down. Loon products are good quality.

Gerber is a name synonymous with quality knives and you would expect their cutters to be good too - they are. These are the only nippers with a handy slot to hold the line while you are managing your flies or lures. It has a hard body of plastic and also has replaceable jaws, lanyard loop and eye cleaner - $60.

I have had a pair of Abel nippers for probably close to 15 years. They still cut as well as they did on the first day. Currently these are $300 a pair, and whilst that seems expensive you will never need to buy another pair. Like any premium tool they are efficient, easy to use and finely machined. You can replace the jaws, but will never need to.

C&F are Japanese and everything they make is done with simplicity and efficiency in mind. They make the best fly boxes and their tools are second to none. Whilst their nippers look simple - that is what they want. These are stainless with non-slip pads and a needle to clean out hook eyes incorporated in the design - $40.

Dr Slick have been around for many years and well known in fly tying. Great quality in scissors and tools are reflected in their nippers. There are a few designs. The ones shown are NSJOB and the angled cutters seem to be a great feature. An eye cleaner and diamond hook file is included - $28.

Douglas Outdoors are better known for their superb rods, but their nippers are unique. The Lidrig are a great design as they use opposing magnets instead of a spring that can give trouble. They are beautifully manufactured and come with a clip that slips onto your hat or vest that is magnetic, so whilst you can use them with a lanyard you can also use the magnet to keep them from swinging around.

Peter Hayes showed me some Smith DX line clippers he got from Japan. These are high quality stainless steel. They are simple and have a great feature in a swing away needle. This is perfect for cleaning out the eye of hooks, but also great for undoing knots that are the bane of an angler's life. I love their simplicity and they work beautifully - $35.